Here are two articles I should look at more closely, both in the New Scientist. (I forget where I came across them, sorry.)

Born believers: How your brain creates God

The credit crunch could be a boon for irrational belief

The second title is a game attempt to make something arcane and abstract timely and relevant. The first title is better. Imagine if, instead, it said, “Born seers: how your brain creates a visual representation of the universe.”

(Updated; I forgot to give this a title.)